Aizawl, June 21: The usually bustling Treasury Square in Aizawl today bore witness to a fiery protest as farmers and vegetable vendors vociferously demonstrated against the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC), alleging persistent mistreatment and draconian restrictions on their ability to earn a livelihood.
The disgruntled group, a vital part of the city’s informal economy, voiced their profound frustration, stating they are currently permitted to sell their fresh produce only once a week. Even on this designated day, they claimed, AMC officials forcibly remove them from their designated spots, often confiscating their hard-earned vegetables without due process. This arbitrary action, they asserted, leaves them struggling to make ends meet and severely impacts their families.
With anger palpable in their voices, the protesting vendors unequivocally demanded the immediate dissolution of the AMC. They accused the civic body of a blatant disregard for the welfare of the less privileged, asserting that the AMC’s actions were “disrespecting the poor” and fundamentally working against the interests of small traders and daily wage earners who rely on these markets for their survival.
This dramatic demonstration unfolds amidst an ongoing city-wide drive by the AMC to clear roadside vendors from various areas of Aizawl. This controversial initiative, aimed at decluttering public spaces, has consistently drawn sharp criticism and condemnation from both street vendor associations and farmer groups across the city, who argue it disproportionately affects vulnerable communities without providing viable alternatives.